“Mobile TV is an additional fun factor for phone users, who expect hassle-free access to a nice selection of international TV channels from their handsets,” – comments Sebastian-Justus Schmidt, Spb Software CEO. “This is why Spb TV is subscription-free, optimized for 3G and WiMax networks, but works great with WiFi connections too. We also look to cooperation with mobile operators, to provide more customized and branded mobile TV experiences to their subscribers,” Sebastian concludes.

Spb TV 1.0 Main Features

• Unique TV browser with quick channels preview and list of current & upcoming TV shows for fast channel selection
• Integrated full week’s TV guide
• Ability to set Outlook reminders for TV shows of interested
• Fast channels launch and switching technology
• Picture-in-picture mode (channel preview while in another channel)
• Finger-friendly onscreen “transparent” controls with instant access to regular TV features
• Full support of hardware buttons controls
• Network bandwidth fluctuations support
• Clever integration of mobile TV functionality with other mobile phone features

 Spb TV 1.0 has a full and a freeware versions, with the freeware version limited in features and number of channels available. Spb TV requires a reliable 3G, WiMax or WiFi network connection for proper streaming. Full version of Spb TV is available for 14.95 USD at www.SpbSoftwareHouse.com.

There’s an important distinction to draw between content streamed to mobile handsets over cellular networks, and free-to-air broadcasting to mobile devices equipped with mobile TV tuners. “Mobile TV users have yet to value the medium properly because it has not been validated as an independent product and service,” says senior analyst Jeff Orr. “It has been primarily offered at the end of a long list of more preferred cellular services. However, Mobile TV will soon be positioned in a more proper role as an extension of traditional broadcast TV services.”

“Mobile TV viewing will not solely be on cellular handsets,” Orr continues, “but also on MIDs,and automotive infotainment systems. I believe that once the content is available and the services launched, mobile TV will enable more classes of mobile devices that are ‘natural fits’ for mobile entertainment.”

ABI Research believes the timing of the market’s emergence is good. As 2009 progresses, signs of economic optimism may emerge, and allow the fledgling industry to establish a foothold before the holiday shopping season.

ABI Research’s new study, “The Mobile TV Market” provides an overview of the global mobile TV market, including the key technologies, services, content, devices, network infrastructure and business models, including market forecasts and strategic insights.

The new relationship brings TiVo and RIM together to develop a variety of mobile entertainment services that marry RIM’s leading BlackBerry smartphones with the content delivered to consumers through the Emmy-winning TiVo service. Initially, BlackBerry smartphone users will gain the convenience of being able to discover what shows are on and schedule television recordings while away from the living room and on the go. Future collaboration between the companies will focus on software applications that further simplify mobile access to video content.

“TiVo subscribers will soon be able to wirelessly control their TiVo DVRs using a BlackBerry smartphone — anytime, anywhere — and that is a powerful example of how our respective technologies can complement each other to serve our mutual customers,” said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO of Research In Motion.

“TiVo continues to transform and revolutionize the way people control and watch television and broadband video,” said Tom Rogers, CEO and President of TiVo Inc. “RIM and TiVo share a commitment to great user experiences, which cause our products to become seamlessly integrated into the consumer’s lifestyle.”

[Source]

AT&T and Verizon Wireless subscribers have access to more than 200 hours of live programming, including all six Notre Dame home games on NBC 2Go, and full-length Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12 Conference, Big East Conference, Big Ten Conference, Conference USA, Mid-American Conference, Pacific-10 Conference, Southeastern Conference, Sun Belt Conference and Western Athletic Conference match-ups. Additionally, MediaFLO USA’s mobile TV service will air a comprehensive schedule of more than 20 bowl games following the regular season.

Starting in early September, MediaFLO USA will stoke the passions and rivalries of college football fans with an innovative online and mobile “Perfect Teammate” marketing campaign – including an online application that allows rival fans to taunt each other before big games, a sweepstakes, a widget and details of MediaFLO USA’s college football programming.

“With the 2008 college football lineup on our mobile TV service, college football fans can follow games live and in perfect clarity on their mobile phones wherever they are,” said Jonathan Barzilay, senior vice president, programming and advertising, MediaFLO USA.

“The FLO TV service allows consumers to stay connected to breaking news as it happens,” said Jonathan Barzilay, senior vice president, programming and advertising, MediaFLO USA. “With the addition of CNBC, MSNBC and FOX News, our subscribers will enjoy instant access to national news and up-to-the-minute financial information.”

All three channels will offer simulcast programming – airing content at the same time as it appears on cable – and will give consumers on-the-go access to many of the most popular news shows on cable TV, including “Squawk Box,” “Mad Money with Jim Cramer” and “Power Lunch” on CNBC; “Countdown with Keith Olbermann,” “Hardball with Chris Matthews” and “Morning Joe” on MSNBC; and “FOX & Friends,” “The O’Reilly Factor with Bill O’Reilly” and “Hannity & Colmes” on FOX News.

In addition to the new channels, MediaFLO USA’s mobile TV service provides consumers with news programming from CBS News on CBS Mobile; NBC News on NBC 2GO, featuring “The Today Show,” “NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams” and “Meet The Press”; and AT&T Mobile TV customers have access to a full-time CNN Mobile channel.

Running on the nation’s fastest third-generation (3G) network, the Invision is pre-loaded with more than just video features, including AT&T Mobile Music, which provides fast access to downloadable music from eMusic, sideloading compatibility from Napster To Go and any unrestricted MP3 audio files and streaming digital radio by XM Radio Mobile. With Bluetooth 2.0 capabilities, you can wirelessly access music, listen to AT&T Mobile TV and make calls hands-free anytime.

The Invision is available in all company-owned AT&T stores for $99.99 with a new two-year agreement and $50 mail-in rebate.

With unlimited channel capacity and more than 50 channels available in the U.S. currently, MobiTV offers media programming from major brands such as ESPN, NBC, Disney ChannelSM, A&E Networks and Discovery Communications. MobiTV’s extensive programming line-up includes MSNBC, Animal Planet, Bravo, USA Network, Bloomberg Television, Access Hollywood, CNBC, CNET, Fox Business, Oxygen (Oh!), Pussycat Dolls, Sci Fi, The History Channel, The Weather Channel, TLC, ToonWorld TV Classics, V40 Top Hits, XM Radio and more. Available channel line-ups vary by carrier partner.

“The company continues to accelerate its growth trajectory, adding another million subscribers in the past 10 months,” said Charlie Nooney, chairman and CEO, MobiTV. “We are thrilled to be on the cusp of mass market acceptance for mobile entertainment in North America. We see a vibrant future for user-driven programming, interactivity and connected media experiences, all of which we continue to create and innovate to deliver a superior value to network operators, content owners, advertisers and viewing consumers.”

For this project, Swisscom’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Swisscom Broadcast chose Nokia’s Mobile Broadcast Solution, while Nokia Siemens Networks integrated the mobile television platform with Swisscom’s systems and provided a broad range of services, including project management, network and architecture planning, security and implementation.

With Bluewin TV mobile, featuring high-definition picture quality and excellent sound, the viewers have a choice of 20 channels, including SF1, TSR1 and Eurosport. An electronic program guide and an easy navigation key allow people on the move to always stay on top of the news.

Swisscom’s DVB-H broadcasts reach some 44 percent of the Swiss population, mostly in the area of Basel, Berne, Geneva, Zurich and Lausanne. Customers outside the DVB-H coverage area or without DVB-H handsets can receive Bluewin TV mobile on the Vodafone live! portal using UMTS/EDGE, which covers 99.8 percent of the population.

The HAVA Mobile Player for S60 was designed for seamless integration with Nokia’s unique two-way slider multimedia devices allowing viewers to toggle between portrait and full-screen landscape mode at the slide of the screen. Control of the TV viewing experience comes from both channel entries and volume control via the device’s physical keys and all other set-top box functions via the application’s elegant and intuitive onscreen UI. This way, users can watch live TV, pause, rewind, skip, schedule at-home DVR recordings and control their home TV watching from a world away, just as if they were in front of their TV in their own living room.

The HAVA Mobile Player for S60 is a Symbian S60 optimized version of the HAVA Player software that Monsoon also provides for PCs and other mobile devices. The HAVA’s unique capabilities enable users to view their home TV simultaneously on multiple PCs in the home network and on network connected mobile devices, including S60 smartphones and Nokia Internet tablets, at home or anywhere in the world.

The HAVA Mobile Player for S60 beta will be available by the end of June 2008. HAVA users interested in participating in Monsoon’s S60 beta program can email Monsoon Multimedia at hava-s60@monsoonmultimedia.com. The HAVA Mobile Player for S60 official release will be available next quarter as a free direct download.

via [fortythreepr.com]

Technology for the jointly proposed system will reflect the findings of the IDOV (Independent Demonstration of Viability) conducted by the Association of Maximum Service Television (MSTV) on behalf of the Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC). A report on IDOV will be submitted by the OMVC to the ATSC.

“LG and Samsung are already world-class in digital TV and mobile communications, said LG President and Chief Technology Officer Woo Paik. “Through this collaboration, we also have an opportunity to lead the North American mobile DTV market.”

Added JongWoo Park, President of Samsung Digital Media Business: “Our collaboration on North American mobile DTV standardization will help accelerate the ATSC standardization of mobile TV technology, which will benefit both consumers and broadcasters.”

ATSC is expected to adopt the mobile/handheld DTV standard for the North American market in early 2009 following trials of the technology by the Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC), a group of leading U.S. broadcasters who are vigorously promoting the development and early deployment of mobile DTV.